Novation Nio 2I4 USB Audio Interface Danville CA

Sure, it is a compact audio interface with the usual XLR and ¼” inputs, MIDI I/O, and headphone capabilities—but it is also an excellent little guitar interface and mixing and monitoring system that operates in tandem with Novation's DirectFX amp and effects software.

Application Spotlight: Novation Nio 2I4 USB Audio Interface

Nio 2|4 Interface

Virtual Amp/Effects Rack

Novation’s Nio 2|4 USB Audio Interface ($299 retail/$199 street) delivers much more than its name implies. Sure, it is a compact audio interface with the usual XLR and ¼” inputs, MIDI I/O, and headphone capabilities—but it is also an excellent little guitar interface and mixing and monitoring system that operates in tandem with Novation’s DirectFX amp and effects software. The software interface includes an array of classic amplifier and distortion pedal models by Overloud, along with virtual effects by Focusrite (Gate, Compressor, EQ, Reverb) and Novation (Filter, Delay, Chorus, Phaser) that you arrange into custom rigs. The Nio 2|4 sits perfectly atop my Mac G5, and I use it with AKG K240 headphones when I want to test gear without disturbing my coworkers. I mostly use clean amp settings—the Vox AC30 and Fender Bassman models are my favorites—and few if any effects, but I’ve experimented with all of the options and been very impressed with them (especially the Focusrite Compressor and Reverb). Latency is practically nonexistent, and the flexible I/O and mixing capabilities make it possible to blend in audio from CD and mp3 players, or accompany a keyboardist playing software synths. I haven’t used the Nio 2|4 for recording or live performance, but it would almost certainly work well in either application (or even as portable DJ mixer given its RCA I/O and knob-based interface).

The Nio 2|4 is compatible with both Macs and PCs. Basic specs are given below, but for more information visit Novation online.

Latency, the time between hitting a note and hearing it, occurs when you plug your guitars into computers and process the sound with amp simulators. This article is about the measures you could take to solve the problem. If you are annoyed by this problem, this article is right for you.